Zatopek Quotes & Sayings

You can't climb up to the second floor without a ladder. When you set your aim too high and don't fulfill it, then your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that's reasonable, and then gradually raise it. — Emil Zatopek

An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head. — Emil Zatopek

Great is the victory, but the friendship of all is greater. — Emil Zatopek

There is a great advantage in training under unfavorable conditions. It is better to train under bad conditions, for the difference is then a tremendous relief in a race. — Emil Zatopek

If you come to think of it, you never see deer, dogs and rabbits worrying about their menus and yet they run much faster than humans. — Emil Zatopek

When I was young, I was too slow. I thought I must learn to run fast by practicing to run fast, so I ran 100 meters fast 20 times. Then I came back, slow, slow, slow. — Emil Zatopek

It's at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys. — Emil Zatopek

If I can get better, why not? — Emil Zatopek

The athlete of today is not an athlete alone. He's the center of a team - doctors, scientists, coaches, agents and so on. — Emil Zatopek

A runner must run with dreams in his heart, not money in his pocket. — Emil Zatopek

Sri Chinmoy brings Heaven to me. He inspires everyone to be happy. He deserves the biggest gold medal. — Emil Zatopek

We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon. — Emil Zatopek

If one can stick to the training throughout the many long years, then will power is no longer a problem. It's raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's besides the point. It's simply that I just have to. — Emil Zatopek

There is not, and never was, a greater man than Emil Zatopek. — Ron Clarke

Men, today we die a little. — Emil Zatopek

One day the factory sports coach, who was very strict, pointed at four boys, including me, and ordered us to run in a race. I protested that I was weak and not fit to run, but the coach sent me for a physical examination and the doctor said that I was perfectly well. So I had to run, and when I got started I felt I wanted to win. But I only came in second. That was the way it started. — Emil Zatopek

When a person trains once, nothing happens. When a person forces himself to do a thing a hundred or a thousand times, then he certainly has developed in more ways than physical. Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter either. Then willpower will be no problem. — Emil Zatopek

My running was very simple; it was out of myself. — Emil Zatopek

Try for a goal that's reasonable, then gradually raise it. — Emil Zatopek

Everyone said, 'Emil, you are a fool!'
But when I first won the European Championship, they said: 'Emil, you are a genius!' — Emil Zatopek

I was not talented enough to run and smile at the same time — Emil Zatopek

Why should I practice running slow? I already know how to run slow. I want to learn to run fast. — Emil Zatopek

It is not necessary to smile and make a wonderful impression on the judges. — Emil Zatopek

I was unable to walk for a whole week after that, so much did the race take out of me. But it was the most pleasant exhaustion I have ever known. — Emil Zatopek

If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon. — Emil Zatopek

What has passed is already finished with. What I find more interesting is what is still to come. — Emil Zatopek

By a persistent effort of will it is possible to change the whole body. The athlete must always keep in mind this concept of change and progression. He must never accept his limitations as being permanent, because they are not. — Emil Zatopek